On Saturday 25th of June 2016, I performed music by Gabrieli, Banchieri, Vaughan-Williams and Rutter in Hampstead Parish Church (St. John-at-Hampstead). The Hampstead Chamber Choir, conducted by Dominic Brennan, had chosen an eclectic mix of music for choir, brass, organ and percussion.

The concert began chronologically, with the ancient music in the first half (performed on modern instruments). The concert opened with a performance of the instrumental ‘Canzon Septimi Toni’ by Gabrieli. In the next piece, Gabrieli’s ‘Jubilate Deo’, the brass consorts accompanied the choir from various locations around the church. ‘O Magnum Mysterium’ was then sung a cappella, before the brass group performed Banchieri’s ’Echo Canzona’- featuring an off-stage brass choir. Gabrieli’s 'In Ecclesiis' took us to the interval.

"Gabrieli’s exquisite polychoral motets were written for St. Mark’s Basilica in Venice, and will be performed in the beautiful setting of Hampstead Parish Church with its stirring acoustic and its balconies which allow for antiphonal placement of the musicians. Hampstead Brass, formed from outstanding London-based musicians for this occasion, will play alongside the choir and will also perform some instrumental pieces of the same period."

The second half moved to 20th Century music, opening with ‘O Clap Your Hands’ by Ralph Vaughan-Williams and culminating with John Rutter’s ‘Gloria’.

"John Rutter’s stirring and etherial Gloria of 1974 is one of his most acclaimed choral works, and it never fails to excite audiences with its brilliant combination of choir, organ, timpani, side drums, pitched percussion and brass ensemble."